Ray Rice stands by criticism of Hines Ward DUI

Posted by Michael David Smith on July 19, 2011, 7:53 AM EDT

Getty Images

A week after Ravens running back Ray Rice took to Twitter to criticize Steelers receiver Hines Ward for getting arrested for drunk driving, Rice has waded back into the issue, and he’s not backing down.

Rice said Ward should know that as a role model, he has a special responsibility.

“People look up to you, Hines,” Rice said. “You just were on TV with Dancing with the Stars. Ravens fans were upset that you won Dancing with the Stars but they still watched you. That shows your charisma and character. You’ve got a legacy in the NFL that no one can take away from you. But if you hurt somebody drunk driving, that takes away a lot.”

Rice noted that he had a cousin who was killed by a drunk driver in 1998, and since then he has taken drunk driving personally.

“Drunk driving is one of those things that hits a soft spot in my life,” Rice said. “I don’t care if you’re a Pittsburgh Steeler or a Baltimore Raven or whoever you are, if you get caught drunk driving, that’s not a smart judgment.”

Rice also made a smart point about how ridiculous it is for any NFL player not to hire a driver if he’s going to be drinking.

“We make enough money,” Rice said. “It’s $150 for a car service for the rest of the night.”

Fans of Ward might not like Rice’s blunt criticism, but I respect Rice for speaking out. He’s right.

I’m curious why no one pointed to the elephant in the room…Donte Stallworth isn’t exactly a choir boy either. It doesn’t make what Hines is accused of doing right, but I would have liked to have read Rice’s response to a follow-up question about having a teammate who killed someone while driving drunk.

I’m a huge Steeler fan! But, Ray Rice could not be more correct. There is NO EXCUSE for what Hines did. I am sure he will think twice before doing it again. Thankfully, no one was physically hurt. Just a bruised ego. Hines will get past this & will probably come out & agree with Ray Rice’s comment.

Yup, Ray hit the nail on the head. They make enough money. Yet they are so worried about sharing $320M which is hardly anything when split between all the NFL players that they are prolonging the deal because of it.

You can see how cheap/stupid they are that they can’t spend $150 to go out and party when they make millions. Yet these are the people some want to be paid even more.

how about directing some of those comments to his CURRENT teammate Sergio Kindle who was arrested for DUI in December of 2010? Until Ray calls out his teammate for the EXACT same violation as Hines then he is not just simply pointing out a DUI.

I agree with you Ray. You’re not saying Hines is bad. You’re just saying he did a bad thing. Hines Ward could have clearly afforded a cab. And if not, he should have been walking. Drinking and driving is against the law. Plain and simple. Perhaps Hines ain’t the model citizen we thought he was. Especialy if he’s whining and making excuses about the arrest. I’m 53 years old and i’ve never been arrested. Hm. It’s not rocket science boys. Just DON”T break the law. Geaux Saints!

How strange is it that Rice wants to slam one particular player, Ward when there has been at least a dozen other players and coaches arrested for a DUI and I’m sure they make enough for the 150.00 taxi. He hasn’t called one of them out. A little short sided on Rice’s side. Go to your local court house and just lock at the week docket and you will be amazed at the number of DUI’s going to court. Understand his point of view on DUI with his brother but if he takes it so highly then go after everyone not one player in your division.

Exactly Ray, I say that every time one of these guys gets busted for DUI. God forbid they hurt someone in the process. Hell, but down $500-$1000 whatever it takes and have a stretch limo waiting all night.

Not sure why PFT left Rice’s comments about Stallworth out of the story because it is, as someone else said, the Elephant in the Room. As for Kindle, I am sure Ray, and others, have talked to him as well.

From the Sun:

Rice said Ward could learn from Ravens wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth. It was two years ago when Stallworth killed a Miami construction worker with his car while driving under the influence of alcohol. He served 24 days in jail and was suspended from the NFL for a year.

“He will tell you that his mistakes would never, ever wish that on nobody,” Rice said. “He is very remorseful for that, and I believe in second chances. And he will never make that mistake again.”

If he’s true to his word that he would harp on his own teammates about this then I support what Rice is saying here regardless of the player. Like it or not a lot of NFL players are role models and they need to be aware of that.

And the award this for the Stiller fan,most blinded by the black and gold, and yet dumb enough to make a statement, that is factually incorrect, and then claims it doesn’t make sense to him…….Is gottawoodley…For his efforts, the organizers on the Hines Ward “Dancing with the Stars” celebration will honor him with a signed Ward ketchup bottle…….Bravo…..

In September of 2010, one month after Ray Rice kicked off his drunk driving campaign, a Raven’s assistant OL coach was popped for DUI. He has later been promoted. Andy Moeller refused the breathalyzer and then plead guilty. What did Ray Rice say after his arrest or conviction? Nothing. Then, Sergio Kindle gets popped for his 2nd DUI. It was not his first. Kindle blew a 0.17, TWICE the legal limit. He plead guilty to avoid jail time. What was Ray Rice’s comment? Nothing. Nada. Crickets.

Ray Rice is very upstanding as long as it does not involve cleaning his own house. Good thing he is worried more about the citizens in other communities than he is the citizens in his own, otherwise he may want to say something about the DUIs closest to him. What a hypocrite.

I’m a huge Steeler fan and I never thought I’d agree with anything a Raven player or fan had to say BUT the was by far the smartest thing I’ve ever heard come out of a Professional athlete’s mouth!! I may now seriously consider picking this guy up in my fantasy football league!

How is this a story? Ray Rice is almost literally saying “DUI’s aren’t a good thing” and this is Newsworthy?? The Steelers have been saying inflammatory things all offseason, and several about the Ravens (they conveniently forget to mention the fact that, ya know, the games are RIGGED), and THIS is why Ryan Clark and other Steelers have their panties in a bunch? Because Ray Rice said DUI’s are bad?!?!?

You Pitt fans are ridiculous. This had nothing to do with bashing the Steelers, or even Hines Ward. Like it or not, Ray Rice hit the nail on the head. There is NO EXCUSE for a player making the kind of money Ward does to get in a car and drive after he’s been drinking. Nobody is saying Ward sucks as a player, as a Steeler, or as a human. And just because thousands or millions of others get drunk and then drive doesn’t it make any of them right or smart either. What is being argued is that while most Americans don’t have the funds at their disposal to have a driver or service on those occasions, Hines Ward certainly does.

Just remember, he’s not being criticized for going out and drinking. He’s being criticized for making the foolish decision to operate a vehicle after doing so.

tmc4real says:
Jul 19, 2011 9:44 AM
In September of 2010, one month after Ray Rice kicked off his drunk driving campaign, a Raven’s assistant OL coach was popped for DUI. He has later been promoted. Andy Moeller refused the breathalyzer and then plead guilty. What did Ray Rice say after his arrest or conviction? Nothing. Then, Sergio Kindle gets popped for his 2nd DUI. It was not his first. Kindle blew a 0.17, TWICE the legal limit. He plead guilty to avoid jail time. What was Ray Rice’s comment? Nothing. Nada. Crickets.

Ray Rice is very upstanding as long as it does not involve cleaning his own house. Good thing he is worried more about the citizens in other communities than he is the citizens in his own, otherwise he may want to say something about the DUIs closest to him. What a hypocrite.

————————————————————-

“I don’t care if you’re a Pittsburgh Steeler or a Baltimore Raven or whoever you are, if you get caught drunk driving, that’s not a smart judgment.”

Couldnt agree more with the post above me.
Hines made a mistake by not getting a driver. But lets not forget to include your own teammates and staff if you plan on running your mouth at hines and the steelers about DUI’s. Criticize all or nobody. I guess we can say the same about you if you ever make this mistake. Hines has been in this league alot longer then you Ray.

wow! getting a lot of thumbs down for pointing out that Rice is a hypocrite for calling for Hines to be suspended for the 1st game of the season when he has never called for suspensions involving players and coaches on his own team for the same infraction…and nothing in my comments condones DUIs, they simply call for the same fingerpointing

It’s really nice to see one of these guys speaking out against drunk driving, when you usually just see one after another getting a DUI. Rice is obviously a human being who cares about this kind of stuff, and he’s making it known that he is against this type of behavior. Kudos to him!

I dont know for sure…but last time I looked,there was a question on whether he was even drunk. I like how Ray Rice criticizes Hines when he doesnt even know the whole story. Thats why we have a court system Ray.

I don’t recall Rice giving any noble speeches about public safety when his own team signed someone who had killed a pedestrian after having been caught driving under the influence MULTIPLE times.
Rice has no credibility on the issue as far as I’m concerned because of it. He should STFU.

@tmc4real – you sure it’s not tmc4STUPID? You don’t have a freakin clue whether Ray Rice had anything to say about Andy Moeller or Donte Stallworth (who, everyone should remember, was not a Raven when he had his infraction…and is not a Raven now…nevertheless, his crime was much worse than Hiney’s & I wish we had never signed him). He just didn’t say it on Twitter – maybe because they’re in his locker room & he could speak to them directly???

Your thoughts & opinions are worthless, because they are based on nada, nothing, crickets… Please go occupy yourself with your Steelers paraphenalia & leave the conversation to the adults…

mswravens, I thought I would have to explain things a little slower for a Ravens fan. First, I am glad you point out that Donte Stallworth was not a Raven. I never mentioned Stallworth. Maybe you can get someone to step in and help you with your reading. I stated that Moeller and Sergio Kindle, both with the Ravens organization, were arrested for DUI in the past year. Both were arrested after Ray Rice kicked off his campaign.

Now, everyone is defending Ray Rice for his stance against DUI and you argue that he may have handled those internally. So, your argument is he did not want to raise any awareness about those close to him, but had no issue doing it with Hines Ward. Is that really your argument? We should keep our dirty laundry hidden, but make sure we go on twitter and point it out for Hines Ward? Is that the upstanding anti-DUI campaign spokesman? This is too easy. I am vocally against this when it is someone else, but I’ll keep it quiet in my own house.

If his decision was to handle it directly and voice his displeasure with Moeller and Kindle (notice, no mention of Stallworth again), then he could have certainly picked up a phone and called Hines Ward. I am sure that two high profile players can reach each other. If he wants to take to twitter in a mocking manner (he never mentioned anything other than Hines missing the game and his potential DUI), then he should have started with the pair of double dipping drunks on his own roster.

i would say hines ward is a little more well known than a second round draft pick that hasnt played a down in the nfl yet. so if ray did say something to him it probably wouldnt make the news. that was a truly classy on your part ripping a guy who is taking a stance against drunk driving. youre simply pathetic

2) I’m ripping the guy b/c he’s looking like a lil B for not wanting Hines to play when the Ravens play the Steelers in week 1. I’m guessing that if the game was scheduled for the 2nd week of the season then Ray would be calling for a 2 game susp.

3) This wasn’t the news creating something. This was Ray Rice posting his thoughts on Twitter so nobody is taking his words and twisting them out of context. Please check his Twitter account and you will see no mention of wanting suspensions for players or coaches who have been arrested for suspicion of DUI which are currently on the same team as Ray Rice.

If he was really standing up to DUIs, he would not limit his criticism to ONLY his rival.

If he’s taking a crusader’s stance against driving impaired, then good on him. He can crusade against it by educating kids in Baltimore about the dangers of driving drunk, and he’ll get all kinds of great publicity for his cause. Calling anyone out PUBLICLY on it, either teammate, coach, or opposing player is not the way to get the message across to the fans who look up to these players. That being said, Rice’s words were classy, clean, and said nothing inflammatory.

Missed this article yesterday. Rice’s comments are true. And based on this post by MDS, I don’t see anything inflammatory or Steeler-bashing about them. The only surprising thing to me is learning it would only have cost Hines $150 to rent a car and driver for the night. That’s peanuts to guys with their income. I don’t even drink, and would love to have the option of someone chauffering me around after a long night.

As Rice said, even nonfans gave Hines grudging respect and this does stain his reputation. I realize he’s human and made a mistake. Thank God no one was hurt. But especially when you’re in the public eye, you have to think before you act.

I think Hines fully accepts his serious error and will take appropriate actions to ensure there is no repeat; however, I’m not always sure I understand the motives of others who feel a need to comment.